Bottle filling machine



Nov. 3, 1931. F. E. FOWLER `BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1950 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES vlin'rEN'r oFFlcE FRANK E. rowLna, or ATHENS, GEORGIA i v (5 BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Application led'August 23, 153.0. Serial No. 477,384.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for filling bottles with carbonated beverages, the general object of the invention being to provide means for closing communication between the head of the apparatus and the bottle filling tube whenever desired, so that the valve stem, filling tube and other parts can be removed without removing the carbonated liquid from the filler head or the bottles from the machine.

In machines as now conructed, in order to change the filling tube or valve or do any other work on parts of the valve mechanism, it is necessary to remove the complete valve move the bottles from the machine and to do this, the carbonated water must be drained from the filler head. It requires quite a bit of time to remove bottles, drain filler head and remove the valve from the head. Also, it is not desirable to drain the cold carbonated water from the head of the filler, as it will allow the metal head to warm up several degrees and will raise the temperature of water in the head whenv the same is filled again. The raising of the temperature of the carbonated water in the head will cause a loss of gas volumes in the bottles being filled until the water gets back to normal or same temperature as before the water was drained from the head.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts. to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and spec-ifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a part of the machine, with the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a. section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing how the diaphragm member.

from the head of the filler as well as to rethe valve stem is adjustably connected with Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of F igj As shown in the drawings, I place an elongatedcasing 1in the fillervhead 2 of the machine, this casing having one end inv Acommunication with the diaphragm chamber 3 and its other end being in communication with the valve filling tube 4. The casing encloses the upper part of the valve stem` 6 and the connection 7 of thestemwith the diaphragmassembly" 5. The casing `is providedwith an linlet opening 8 so that the liquid in the head 2 can flow into thelower part of the casing and thus pass into the filling tube 4. `The opening 8 is formedby a short horizontal v extension 8 of the casing Awhichv is formed with a downwardly and outwardly sloping end which provides a seat for a valve plate 9 which is hingedly connected to a projection on the casing, as shown vat 10, so that gravity holds the valve on the seat, thus closing the opening. depending projection 11 is formed on the-lower part of the valve plate and a short shaft 12 is rotatably arranged in a part of the lower part of thehead and has an arm 13 on its upper end for engaging the projection l11when the shaft is turned in a certain direction which acts to open the valve. An arm 14 is fastened to the lower end of the shaft and is'located under the head and exteriorly thereof so that this arm is accessible tothe operator and enables him to open and close the valve when-ever desired. The upper end of the stem 6 is threaded in a' bore'formed in the connection 7 and said stem is provided with the oppositely arrangedv notches v15 which are adapted to be engaged by the spring latch 16 pivoted to the connection 7 and extending through a .slot therein. Thus the `stem is adjustably connected with the diaphragm assembly and the latch 6 holds the parts in adjusted position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the' liquid in the head 2 will flow through i5 assembly :in Dsaid rchamber, fthe last named -.valve fand -nected JWith they diaphragm other parts of the valve assembly, it is sim ply necessary to turn the shaft 12 by its arm 14 to move the arm 13 out of engagement With the projection 11, which Will permit.

the valve 9 to close the opening 8, which prevents the liquid in the head from entering the casing. .Then the partscan be easilyremovediandfrenewedfor replaced, as desired.

After the repairs have been made, the shaft 12 is turned in an opposite direction to cause the arm 13 to open the valve'andthenlthe machine can be started.

It is thought from the foregoing"descrip-` tion that the advantages andonovelifeatures of the invention Will be readily apparent.

fIt 'is to be understood that `changes may be made in the construction and in the Co1nbination and tarrangement fof the Yseveral parts, provided that sueh :changes Ffall With- ,in the scope 1 of theappended :claims `ehine .having a filling, head, .of an elongated :caslng rising within 'the head aand having a .di-aphragmfchamberz-at `its upper end and .a .liquid, inlet at its lower ,endfcommunicat ing with the'l head, agravity closing; valveJ for ,the inlet, .a .filling tube-extended from'the easing .Without ,the head V.and detach-able. ,diaphragm .therefro1n,.a valve for.' the tube, a

11a A:stem carrying detachably con- :asselnbly A'fora removal through thetube; and.- manuallyfaetu- `.atedginieansadjacent-to fthe ltube and opera-- ble ,outside-,of-the'head -foropening-the flast named valve.

f2. Incombination `With a bottle ll'ing-ma- .chine having a. filling headfof an elongated easing -rising Within the. head i and havingv a diaphragm chamber f at .its upper .end --and V,a

liquid inletat its lower endcommunicating lWithxthe head,.a gravity closing valve *.for thefinlet, .alling tubeextended from the casing Without `,the .head `and detachable therefrom, a lvalvefor the=tube,-a diaphragm assembly in ysaid chamber, a stem ...carrying .the -.last V.named valve 'and detachably conneeted wwith the diaphragm assembly for removal'fthrouglithe tube, v7a pivot journaled atfone side of-the tube, an armonfthepivot Iand.acting upon-.the last named valve for .opening the same,and ahandle earriedby said y;pifvot and fopera'ble. outsidel of the hea-d .topermitlthegopening ofthe last named .valve by the. arm.

.Inftestimony whereof .If-affixY my signature.

:ERANK 

